Utah Stepped State Outline Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a flat panel and open the pumpkin

   Choose the smoothest, flattest face of the pumpkin so your straight lines do not warp over deep ribs. Have an adult cut a lid from the bottom rather than the top, which keeps the stem intact and gives you a stable opening for the light. Scoop the insides until the front wall is about one inch thick. A thinner wall is easier to saw cleanly and lets more light through.

2. 2

   Transfer the Utah outline

   Print or draw the Utah silhouette sized to fit the flat panel, keeping the tall rectangular body and the square notch cut into the upper right corner. Tape the pattern flat and poke closely spaced dots along every edge and corner with a pin or awl. Remove the paper and lightly connect the dots with a washable marker. Double check that the notch sits at the upper right and the corners look square before you cut.

3. 3

   Score the corners first

   Before any deep cuts, press a small ruler against the skin and lightly score each straight edge to lock in the geometry. Give the four inside corners of the notch a shallow starter cut so the saw does not overshoot later. Working the corners first keeps your right angles crisp and prevents ragged tears where two lines meet. Take your time here since these clean angles are what make the state recognizable.

4. 4

   Saw the main body opening

   Using a fine pumpkin saw, cut along the long straight edges of the lower body with slow, steady strokes, keeping the ruler as a guide where you can. Cut the large rectangle as one connected opening so it falls out in a single piece. Let the saw do the work and avoid forcing it, which can crack a corner. Push the cut piece out gently from the inside.

5. 5

   Cut and remove the notch

   Now handle the stepped shoulder at the upper right. Saw the two short edges that form the square notch, then connect them to the top edge so that corner of the outline stays solid skin and does not get removed. The goal is to leave the notch area as untouched dark pumpkin while the rest of the state glows. Clean up any fuzzy edges with the tip of your saw for a sharp finish.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Set a battery LED puck or string light inside and never use a candle, since the flat inner wall can scorch. Test the glow at dusk and rotate the light until the whole state fills evenly with warm orange. If one area looks dim, shave the inside wall a little thinner behind it. Shoot your photo against a simple background so the boxy silhouette stands out.